Personal space heater

ABSTRACT

A heater having a housing including a bottom wall with a peripheral wall extending upwardly and outwardly away therefrom. A cavity is bounded and defined by the bottom and peripheral walls and a temperature control mechanism is disposed within the cavity. A footrest is engaged with the peripheral wall and closes off access to the cavity. The footrest is inclined at an angle relative to the bottom wall and slopes upwardly from a front region of the housing toward the back region thereof. The footrest includes a grid with a plurality of slats disposed thereon. The grid defines a plurality of apertures therein and the slats are spaced a distance apart from each other. When the temperature control mechanism is activated, air within the cavity is heated or cooled and is driven by a fan out of the aligned apertures and gaps. The slats are warmed or cooled by the driven air. The fan may be activated independently of the temperature control mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This application related generally to heaters. More particularly, the application is directed to a personal space heater that is positionable on a floor surface in a location such as beneath a desk. Specifically, the application is directed to a heater having an inclined footrest which changes temperature when activated and which allows heated or cooled air to be blown upwardly toward a user's legs when their feet are positioned on the footrest.

2. Background Information

Space heaters are used by people to warm specific areas of a room. Many such devices have been proposed in the prior art These previously known devices typically include a generally vertically oriented box that has apertures in a side wall that permits heat to radiate outwardly therefrom. Yet other space heaters include substantially vertical radiator-type elements or shielded heating elements that radiate heat outwardly toward the user. These devices perform fairly well but typically do not permit direct contact therewith as the surfaces become too hot to touch. Many people, especially elderly or ill persons may find these previously known heaters to be inadequate to keep them sufficiently warm enough. For this reason, people frequently find they need to operate the heater at its highest setting in order to sufficiently warm up the space surrounding the heater. This obviously leads to an increase in the energy consumed by the heater.

There is therefore a need in the art for a heater that enables the user to more directly experience the heat that is put out by the device while reducing the cost for operating the device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device of the present invention comprises a heater having a housing including a bottom wall with a peripheral wall extending upwardly and outwardly away therefrom. A cavity is bounded and defined by the bottom and peripheral walls and a temperature control mechanism is disposed within the cavity. A footrest is engaged with the peripheral wall and closes off access to the cavity. The footrest is inclined at an angle relative to the bottom wall and slopes upwardly from a front region of the housing toward the back region thereof. The footrest includes a grid with a plurality of slats disposed thereon. The grid defines a plurality of apertures therein and the slats are spaced a distance apart from each other. When the temperature control mechanism is activated, air within the cavity is heated or cooled and is driven by a fan out of the aligned apertures and gaps. The slats are warmed or cooled by the driven air. The fan may be activated independently of the temperature control mechanism. The user is able to place their feet directly onto the footrest. Since the slats are heated or cooled and since heated or cooled air is emitted by the heater, the user's feet get directly heated or cooled, as do the user's legs. The user is thus able to more directly experience the temperature change provided by the heater of the present invention and is thus less inclined to run the device for protracted periods of time to heat up the entire room in which the heater is located. Additionally, the heater is provided with variable controls that allow the user to adjust the level of heat or cold emitted by the heater or is able to switch off any heating or cooling element and just run a fan within the device to provide a cooling breeze. The footrest is disposed at an inclined angle that is sufficient to provide a comfortable position for the user's feet at all times during operation of the device and otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floor heater in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the exterior shell of the heater of FIG. 1 with the interior components removed therefrom for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the heater showing cut-away portions of the various components that make up the heater and are disposed in the interior thereof;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional right side view of the heater taken through line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and showing the heater in use;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged right side view of the highlighted portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a heater in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional right side view of the heater of FIG. 6. Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a heater in accordance with the present invention, generally indicated at 10. Heater 10 is configured for placement in a location convenient for a user to put their feet or shoes upon. Suitable locations for such placement include in front of chairs and more specifically beneath a desk and in front of where the user will sit on a chair. Heater 10 is operable to both heat and cool the user of the device. The term “heater” used herein should be understood to encompass a device that both heats and cools and should not be interpreted narrowly as a device that only heats up.

Heater 10 comprises a housing 12 which includes a bottom wall 14 with a peripheral wall 15 (FIG. 2) extending upwardly and outwardly away therefrom. The peripheral wall 15 preferably comprises a front wall 16, a back wall 18, a left side wall 20 and a right side wall 22. Bottom wall 14 and peripheral wall 15 bound and define an interior cavity 17 (FIG. 3) within which is housed a temperature generating mechanism 19 as will be hereinafter described. Access to cavity 17 is closed off at the top by a footrest 48 that engages peripheral wall 15. Footrest 48 will be further described hereinafter. Preferably, housing 12 is manufactured from a suitable material such as ceramic, plastic or metal.

Bottom wall 14 is a substantially planar member that defines a plurality of shaped regions 24, each of which defining an aperture 26 therein. A plurality of pads 28 are engaged with bottom wall 14. Each pad 28 is positioned adjacent the exterior surface of wall 14 in one of said shaped regions 24 and then the pad 28 is secured in place by inserting a fastener 30 through aperture 26 therein. The number and size of regions 24 and pads 28 is selected based on the size of heater 10. Pads 28 preferably are manufactured from a non-skid type material so that heater 10 will not be easily pushed along a surface 62 (FIG. 4) upon which heater 10 rests. A suitable material for pads 28 would be rubber.

Front wall 16 extends upwardly away from a front end of bottom wall 14. Preferably, front wall 16 is formed as an extension of bottom wall 14 that is bent upwardly and shaped to include a first leg 16 a and a second leg 16 b. First leg 16 a is disposed generally at right angles to bottom wall 14 and second leg 16 b is disposed at an angle of about 30 to 50 degrees relative to first leg 16 a. Second leg 16 b extends outwardly and rearwardly away from an uppermost end of first leg 16 a. Preferably, the transition zones 16 c between bottom wall 14 and first leg 16 a of front wall 16 and between first leg 16 a and second leg 16 b are gently curved or beveled. This configuration of the transition zones ensures that the front end of heater 10 does not present any sharp straight-edged corners that could hurt the user. Front wall 16 is provided with a lip 16 d (FIG. 4) that extends outwardly and rearwardly away from a rear end of second leg 16 b and for a distance into interior cavity 17. The purpose of lip 16 d will be hereinafter described.

A plurality of apertures 32 (FIG. 4) are defined in first leg 16 a and a corresponding plurality of control members 34 such as toggle switches or on/off buttons or dials extend partially or fully through apertures 32 and into the interior cavity 17 of housing 12. One or more activation lights 38, for example LED's, may also be provided in some of the apertures 32 in first leg 16 a. Electrical circuitry 40 operationally connects the control members 34 and lights 38 to the temperature control mechanism 19 within the interior cavity 17 as will be hereinafter described. A power cable 41 connects circuitry 40 to a remote power source (not shown). Preferably, heater 10 operates at around 500 Watts. It will be understood that an internal power source, such as a battery, may be provided instead of using a remote power source. In that instance, power cable 4 l may be omitted from heater 10.

Rear wall 18 extends outwardly and upwardly away from bottom wall 14 and from an end thereof opposed to front wall 16. Preferably, rear wall 18 is an extension of bottom wall 14 and is bent to form a first leg 18 a and a second leg 18 b. First leg 18 a is secured to bottom wall 14 via a transition zone 18 c and second leg 18 b extends outwardly from a top end of first leg 18 a. First leg 18 a is disposed generally at right angles to bottom wall 14 and is separated therefrom by a rounded or beveled transition zone 18 c. Second leg 18 b extends outwardly and forwardly away from the top end of first leg 18 a and is disposed at an angle of between 30 and fifty degrees relative to first leg 18 a. Once again, a gently rounded or beveled transition zone 18 c connects first leg 18 a and second leg 18 b together. A lip 18 d extends outwardly and forwardly from a front end of second leg 18 b. A plurality of parallel slits 42 are defined in first leg 18 a to provide a vent region through which air can flow into or out of interior cavity 17.

As is evident from FIG. 4, first leg 16 a of front wall 16 has a height H1 and first leg 18 a of back wall 18 has a height H2. The height H2 is greater than height H1. Additionally, second leg 16 b and second leg 18 b are substantially on the same plane indicated by the line P. Thus, second legs 16 b, 16 a are inclined at an angle “X” relative to the bottom wall 14. Angle “X” is between 10 and 30 degrees and preferably is at 20 degrees relative to bottom wall 14. The front wall 16 is lower than the back wall 18, thus footrest 48 of heater 10 is inclined upwardly from front to back.

Left and right side walls 20, 22 are substantially identical to each other. Each wall 20, 22 includes a vertical region 20 a, 22 a and a peripheral edge 20 b, 22 b that extends outwardly from vertical region 20 a, 22 a and generally at right angles thereto. The peripheral edge 20 b, 22 b extends around substantially the entire periphery of vertical region 20 a, 22 a. As is evident from FIG. 2, the vertical regions and peripheral edges have a front end that is complementary in cross-sectional shape to front wall 16 and a back end that is complementary in shape to back wall 18. A lip 20 c, 22 c extends outwardly from peripheral edge 20 b, 22 b along a top edge thereof. Side walls 20, 22 are configured to be engaged over the side edges of front wall 16, bottom wall 14 and back wall 18 in such a way that the peripheral edges 20 b, 22 b thereof overlap portions of first legs 16 a, 18 a, second legs 16 b, 18 b and a portion of bottom wall 14. Side walls 20, 22 may be frictionally retained around front wall 16, bottom wall 14 and back wall 18 or may be riveted, welded or otherwise fastened thereto.

In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, housing 12 is provided with a footrest 48 that is engaged with front wall 16, back wall 18, and left and right side walls 20, 22. Footrest 48 comprises a grid 44 and a plurality of slats 50 that are secured to grid 44. Slats 50 are comprised of any suitable material that will heat up or cool down when exposed to a source or heat or cold and will then transmit that heat or cold to anything that comes into contact with them or is in their vicinity. Suitable materials for slats 50 include natural wood, synthetic materials or ceramic, but any other suitable material may be used within departing from the scope of the present invention. The material selected for slats 50 should not heat up or cool down to a temperature that would be uncomfortable for a user to place their bare feet thereupon or that would cause a user's feet to become burned either by heat or by cold. Thus, the temperature of the slats 50 or the heated air rising out of heater 10 should not be much greater than about 29° C. (85° F.) if heater 10 is activated to deliver heated air. Similarly, the temperature of slats 50 should not fall much below 4° C. (40° F.) if heater 10 is activated in such a manner as to deliver cold air through apertures 46 and slats 50. Preferably, control members 34 include a variable temperature control device that will permit the user to select and vary the temperature of the air exiting heater 10 and therefore of slats 50. This control device could be hand operated, foot operated or operated by remote control. Preferably, heater 10 has around 605 W of power and this is sufficient for using the device to heat just your feet or to adequately heat a room that is about 10′×10′ in size. Additionally, slats 50 preferably are curved or beveled at their upper edges to prevent potential injury to the user. It should be understood that heaters 10 can be produced for persons who suffer from conditions such as diabetes which may hinder their ability to adequately sense that their feet may be being burned on the heater. In such instances, heater 10 may be configured so that the maximum temperature it will output is around 70° F.

Grid 44 of housing 12 extends between left and right side walls 20, 22 and between front and back walls 16, 18. Preferably, grid 44 is comprised of a material that readily transmits heat through radiation and/or conduction. Suitable materials therefore include ceramics and metals. Grid 44 comprises a planar sheet that defines a plurality of apertures 46 therein. Apertures 46 are provided across substantially the entire surface of grid 44. Each aperture 46 preferably is around 4-5 mm in diameter. When grid 44 is engaged with housing 12, a front edge 44 a is positioned to rest on lip 16 d, a back edge 44 b is positioned to rest on lip 18 d, a left edge 44 c is positioned to rest on lip 20 c, and a right edge 44 d is positioned to rest on lip 22 c. Left and right side edges 44 c, 44 d preferably slide under peripheral edges 20 b, 22 b and grid 44 is thus retained in engagement with housing 12 between these peripheral edges 20 b, 22 b. It will be understood that grid 44 may be secured by fasteners to portions of the housing but this is not illustrated in the attached figures.

Slats 50 are secured onto an upper surface of grid 44 by any suitable means such as through the use of fasteners, such as self-tapping screws. Depending on the materials selected, it may be desirable to engage slats 50 with grid 44 in such a way that a space is defined between the upper surface of grid 44 and a bottom surface of slats 50. This space will permit slats 50 to become somewhat heated but will prevent the same from being burned if slats 50 are made from wood, for example. A suitable size for the space in this instance is around 10-12 mm. This size spacing is sufficient to allow for good air circulation and to prevent the user's feet 66 (FIG. 4 from becoming burned. Slats 50 preferably are positioned substantially parallel to each other and run from adjacent left side wall 20 to adjacent right side wall 22. Adjacent slats 50 are spaced a distance apart from each other so that a gap 52 is formed between each pair of adjacent slats. These gaps 52 will partially or fully align with some of apertures 46 in grid 44. Thus, the aligned or partially aligned gaps 52 and apertures 46 provide for fluid communication between interior cavity 17 of housing 12 and the air surrounding housing 12. Preferably, when grid 44 is engaged with front, back, left and right side walls 16, 18, 20, 22, at least a top portion of each slat 50 projects for a distance above second legs 16 b, 18 b of front and back walls 16, 18. Additionally, slats 50 are of a length sufficient to extend from left side wall 20 to right side wall 22. Grid 44 is aligned along plane P and therefore slopes upwardly from adjacent front wall 16 to adjacent back wall 18.

It will be understood that instead of being directly secured to grid 44, slats 50 may be secured to a frame that is then positioned adjacent grid 44. Additionally, it should be understood that slat 50 can be placed in any pattern relative to each other.

As indicated previously, the interior cavity 17 houses a temperature control mechanism 19 for altering the temperature of the air within cavity 17 and for moving the air within cavity 17. Temperature control mechanism 19 includes but is not limited to a temperature control element 54, a fan or blower 56, and ducting 58. Temperature control element 54 preferably comprises a heating element or infra-red heating element or any other device that will generate heat or cold. Although not shown herein, temperature control mechanism 19 may also include a thermostat that may be programmable. It will be understood that the electrical circuitry 40 connects the various relevant components together so that the temperature control element 54 may be heated or cooled upon activation and the fan 56 may be rotated to blow air through a passageway 59 through duct 58. It will be understood that the temperature control element 54 may take any form and may be comprised of elements made from suitable materials that will emit heat into the surrounding air upon activation. Temperature control element 54 may additionally or alternatively include elements that may remove heat from the surrounding air. Additionally, fan 56 may take any suitable form and may be located within cavity 17 or outside cavity and adjacent slits 42. Still further, ducting 58 may be omitted or may be differently configured from the manner illustrated in the attached figures. It should be understood that the illustrated components of the temperature control mechanism 19 of heater 10 are provided by way of example only and the form and placement thereof should not be construed as limiting to the scope of the present invention. Any suitable heat generating or heat removing and air delivery mechanism should be considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Heater 10 is used in the following manner. The user positions heater 10 so that pads 28 rest upon a flat surface 62 (FIG. 4). Preferably, there are four pads 28 provided on heater 10 to prevent it from slipping or sliding around the surface 62. It will be understood, however, that the entire lower surface of heater 10 may, alternatively, be manufactured from a gripping type of material that stops heater 10 from slipping or sliding around on surface 62.

The user activates heater 10 by engaging the appropriate control member 34 on front wall 16. This in turn causes temperature control element 54 to become warmed or cooled and at an appropriate point, fan 56 is caused to rotate in the direction of arrow “A”. The rotating fan 56 draws fresh air into cavity 17 through slits 42 in rear wall 18, sucks the fresh air into the fan housing 64 through air intake apertures 57. The air is then driven over the heated or cooled temperature control element 54 and into duct 58. The temperature altered air flows through the duct 58 and under grid 44 and is driven outwardly through apertures 46 in grid 44. Some of those apertures 46 are aligned or partially aligned with gaps 52. The driven temperature-altered air flows upwardly through the gaps 52 and directly contacts the user's foot 66 resting on slats 50. That driven temperature altered air also rises past foot 66 and warms or cools the air above and surrounding heater 10 by convection. Yet other apertures 46 such as aperture 46 a (FIG. 4) are completely obstructed by a slat such as slat 50 a. Thus, air driven upwardly through aperture 46 a, directly contacts slat 50 a and transmits at least some heat or cold thereto. Slats 50, such as slat 50 a therefore become warmed or cooled by the driven temperature altered air. The warmth or cold from the slats such as 50 a then passes into the user's foot 66 by conduction.

In other instances, the user may merely wish to have air flow from heater 10 without altering the temperature of the air surrounding heater 10. A separate one of the control members 34 is activated for this purpose and upon activation of the same, only the fan 56 will start to rotate. Air is then drawn into cavity 17 of heater 10 from the surroundings through slits 42 and is then driven by fan 56 through ducting 58 and outwardly through apertures 46. The air surrounding the user's foot 66 is thereby caused to move.

Because of the configuration of heater 10, the preferred placement of the heater 10 relative to the user's feet and legs and because of the direct contact of the user's feet with the slats, heater 10 provides an energy efficient way to heat or cool a user's body.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown a second embodiment of a heater in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at 110. Heater 110 comprises a housing 112 which includes a bottom wall 114 with a peripheral wall extending upwardly and outwardly away therefrom. The peripheral wall preferably comprises a front wall 116, a back wall 118, a left side wall 120 and a right side wall 122. The bottom wall 114 and peripheral wall bound and define an interior cavity 117 (FIG. 7) within which is housed a temperature control element 154 as will be hereinafter described. Access to cavity 117 is closed off at the top by a footrest 148 that engages the upper edge of the peripheral wall. Footrest 148 will be further described hereinafter. As with the first embodiment of the heater 10, housing 112 is manufactured from a suitable material such as ceramic, plastic or metal. Housing 112 is substantially identical in structure to housing 12 and includes a plurality of pads 128 which extend downwardly from a bottom surface of bottom wall 114. Pads 128 preferably are manufactured from a non-skid type material so that heater 110 will not be easily pushed along a surface upon which it rests.

Front wall 116 extends upwardly away from a front end of bottom wall 114 and preferably is formed as an extension of bottom wall 114 that is bent upwardly in a similar manner to front wall 16. A plurality of control members 134 such as toggle switches or on/off buttons or dials are provided on front wall 116. It will be understood that control members 134 may, instead, be flush with front wall 116 and be activated by contacting the same with a fingertip. One or more activation lights 138, for example LED's, may also be provided on front wall 116. Electrical circuitry 140 is operationally connected to control members 134, lights 138 and to the temperature control element 154 within the interior cavity 117 as will be hereinafter described. A power cable 141 connects circuitry 140 to a remote power source (not shown).

Rear wall 118 extends outwardly and upwardly away from an end of bottom wall 114 opposed to front wall 116. Preferably, rear wall 118 is an extension of bottom wall 114 and includes a first leg 118 a (FIG. 7). A plurality of slits 142 or apertures are defined in first leg 118 a to provide a vent region through which air can flow into or out of interior cavity 117. Front wall 116 is shorter than rear wall 118 in a similar manner to front and rear walls 16 and 18. Left and right side walls 120, 122 are substantially identical to left and right side walls 20, 22 of housing 12.

In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, housing 112 is provided with a footrest 148 that is engaged with front wall 116, back wall 118, and left and right side walls 120, 122. Footrest 148 extends between the upper edges of front wall 116, back wall 118 and left and right side walls 120, 122. Footrest 148 includes a grid 144 and a plurality of slats 150. Grid 144 is complementary in shape to an opening in an upper end of housing 112 and has a front edge 144 a, a rear edge 144 b, and left and right side edges 144 c, 144 d, an interior surface 144 e and an exterior surface 144 f. Grid 144 is comprised of a material that readily transmits either heat or cold therethrough. Consequently, suitable materials for grid 144 include ceramics and metals. Grid 144 defines a plurality of apertures 146 therein that extend between interior and exterior surfaces 144 e, 144 f. Slats 150 are disposed in abutting contact with exterior surface 144 f and preferably are fixedly secured thereto by means of a suitable fastening mechanism such as adhesive, rivets or screws.

Slats 150 are secured to exterior surface 144 f of grid 144 by any suitable means, such as adhesive, rivets and fasteners. Slats 150 preferably are oriented substantially parallel to each other and adjacent slats 150 are separated from each other by gaps 152 (FIG. 7). These gaps 152 will partially or fully align with some of apertures 146 in grid 144. Thus, the aligned or partially aligned gaps 152 and apertures 146 provide for fluid communication between interior cavity 117 of housing 112 and the air surrounding housing 112. Preferably, when grid 144 is engaged with housing 112, at least a top portion of each slat 150 projects for a distance above the uppermost ends of front and back walls 116, 118. Additionally, slats 150 are of a length sufficient to extend from left side wall 120 to right side wall 122. Grid 144 slopes upwardly from adjacent front wall 116 to adjacent back wall 118 in a substantially identical way to grid 44 of the first embodiment of heater 10.

Slats 150 preferably are comprised of any suitable material that will heat up or cool down when exposed to a source or heat or cold and will then transmit that heat or cold to anything that comes into contact with them or is in their vicinity.

Suitable materials for slats 150 include natural wood, synthetic materials or ceramic, but any other suitable material may be used within departing from the scope of the present invention. The material selected for slats 150 should not heat up or cool down to a temperature that would be uncomfortable for a user to place their bare feet thereupon or that would cause a user's feet to become burned either by heat or by cold. Thus, the temperature of the slats 150 or the heated air rising out of heater 10 should not be much greater than about 29° C. (85° F.) if heater 110 is activated to deliver heated air. Similarly, the temperature of slats 150 should not fall much below 4° C. (40° F.) if heater 110 is activated in such a manner as to deliver cold air through apertures 146 and slats 150. Preferably, control members 134 include a variable temperature control device that will permit the user to select and vary the temperature of the air exiting heater 110 and therefore of slats 150.

A top wall 158 of housing 12 extends between left and right side walls 120, 122 and between front and back walls 116, 118 and is disposed a distance beneath grid 144 such that a space 159 is defined between top wall 158 and grid 144. Preferably, top wall 158 is comprised of a material that readily transmits heat or cold through radiation and/or conduction. Suitable materials therefore include ceramics and metals. When top wall 158 is engaged with housing 112, a front edge thereof contacts a region of front wall 116, a back edge thereof contacts a region of rear wall 118, a first side edge thereof contacts a portion of left side wall 120 and a second side edge thereof contacts a portion of right side wall 122. It will be understood that top wall 158 may be integrally formed with the front, rear, left and right side walls 116, 118, 120, 122 or it may be secured thereto by suitable means, such as by welding.

In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, heater 110 is provided with one or more axial fans 156 mounted in a fan housing 170. Although only a single fan 156 is illustrated in FIG. 7, it will be understood that preferably, heater includes a pair of fans 156 that are situated in side-by-side relation proximate rear wall 118 of housing 112. Fans 156 are positioned to pull air from outside housing 112 through slits 142 and into a duct 172. As is evident from FIG. 7, duct 172 tapers as it moves away from fan housing 170, thus causing air flowing therethrough to accelerate toward heating element 154. A plenum 174 is situated forwardly of heating element 154. Plenum 174 defines a chamber 176 therein that is in fluid communication with heating element 154 and duct 172. Air being caused to move by fans 156 is directed through duct 172, through heating element 154 and into chamber 176. Plenum 174 has an opening 178 at a top end thereof and opening 178 is in fluid communication with chamber 176.

In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, a diffuser 180 is positioned a distance above top wall 158 and directly over opening 178 in plenum 174. A gap 182 (FIG. 7) is defined between diffuser 180 and top wall 158. Diffuser 180 may take a variety of forms including a generally planar sheet (not shown) that would be disposed generally parallel to top wall 158 and substantially at right angles to the direction of airflow out of opening 178 in plenum 174. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, diffuser 180 preferably is a plate member having a plurality of differently angled faces 180 a, 180 b, 180 c, and 180 d. Each of faces 180 a-180 d preferably is oriented to change the direction of air flowing out of opening 178 so that the air is caused to move generally outwardly away from the top end of plenum 174 and toward one of the front wall, rear wall, left side wall and right side wall 116, 118, 120, 122. Furthermore, faces 180 a-180 d preferably are angled to direct the airflow in a generally upward direction. This causes at least some of the air to flow toward grid 144. As illustrated in FIG. 7, Diffuser 180 defines one or more apertures 184 therein that enable a quantity of air to flow directly upwardly from opening 178 and into contact with grid 144. When the device is operational, a quantity of air flowing out of opening 178 strikes the undersurface of diffuser 180 and the direction of the flow is changed so that instead of flowing upwardly, that air is moved toward one of the front, rear, left side or right side walls 116-122 as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 7.

As is evident from FIG. 6, diffuser 180 is smaller than top wall 158 and has a front edge 181 a, a rear edge 181 b, a left side edge 181 c and a right side edge 181 d. Front edge 181 a is spaced a distance inwardly from front wall 116, rear edge 181 b is spaced a distance inwardly away from rear wall 118, left side edge 181 c is spaced a distance inwardly away from left side wall 120 and right side edge 181 d is spaced a distance inwardly away from right side wall 122. Since hot air rises, as soon as the heated air is redirected by striking diffuser 180 and air leaves chamber 176 of plenum 174, it enters gap 182 and clears one of the front, rear, left side and right side edges 181 a-181 d. The air rises upwardly to either strike the interior surface 144 e of grid 144 or to flow through apertures 146 in grid 144. Some of the air entering apertures 146 will strike the underside of slats 150 and the rest of the air will flow into gaps 152 between slats 152. Grid 144 and slats 150 are warmed by some of the heated air and will therefore radiate heat to that region of the environment immediately above heater 110. If a person has their feet placed on slats 150, their feet will be warmed both by the heat radiating from grid 144 and slats 150 and by the remnant of the airflow exiting gaps 152. As with the first embodiment of the heater 10, heater 110 is designed to provide heat that does not exceed a temperature that could potentially cause burns to the feet of the user.

The plenum 174 and diffuser 180 ensure that the airflow is collected and delivered to the central region of grid 144 and slats 150 and is distributed generally evenly to the rest of the top end of heater 110. It is most likely that the central region of the grid 144 and slats 150 will be warmer than the rest of the top end and this is advantageous as this is the most likely location that a user will position their feet.

All other components of heater 110 function in the substantially the same manner as the components of heater 10. It will be understood that the controls 134 preferably are set up so that the user can bypass heating element 154 and simply blow air onto the bottom of the feet and legs by activating fans 156. Additionally, although not illustrated herein, it will be understood that heater 110 may additionally or alternatively be provided with a unit that will cool air that is being drawn into duct 172 though slits 142 and driven into plenum 174 and then through grid 144 and slats 150 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 

1. A heater comprising: a housing having a bottom wall with a peripheral wall extending upwardly and outwardly away therefrom; a cavity bounded and defined by the bottom and peripheral walls; a temperature control mechanism disposed within the cavity, said temperature control mechanism being activatable to alter the temperature of air within the cavity; a footrest engaged with the peripheral wall and extending across a top opening to the cavity; and wherein the temperature of said footrest is changed when the temperature control mechanism is activated; and wherein the footrest is adapted to support one or both of a user's feet thereon.
 2. The heater as defined in claim 1, wherein the footrest is disposed at an inclined angle relative to the bottom wall.
 3. The heater as defined in claim 2, wherein the angle is between 10 and 30 degrees relative to the bottom wall.
 4. The heater as defined in claim 3, wherein the angle is 20 degrees relative to the bottom wall.
 5. The heater as defined in claim 2, wherein the peripheral wall includes a front wall and a back wall, and wherein the footrest slopes upwardly at the angle away from the front wall and toward the back wall.
 6. The heater as defined in claim 1, wherein the footrest includes: a grid having an upper surface, a lower surface and side edges; and a plurality of apertures defined in the grid, said apertures being spaced at intervals from each other and extending between the upper and lower surfaces; and wherein said apertures provide fluid communication between the interior cavity of the housing and the air surrounding the heater.
 7. The heater as defined in claim 6, wherein the grid is manufactured from a temperature conductive material.
 8. The heater as defined in claim 6, further comprising: a plurality of slats disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the grid, a plurality of gaps, each gap being defined between adjacent slats, whereby at least some of the plurality of apertures in the grid are at least partially aligned with some of the gaps between the slats.
 9. The heater as defined in claim 8, wherein the slats are made from a thermally conductive material.
 10. The heater as defined in claim 8, wherein the slats are elongate members that are positioned in substantially parallel relationship to each other.
 11. The heater as defined in claim 8, wherein the slats have an upper surface, a lower surface and sides extending therebetween, and wherein the lower surface is placed in abutting contact with the exterior surface of the grid and are fixedly secured thereto.
 12. The heater as defined in claim 9, wherein the slats are made of one of wood, synthetic materials or ceramic.
 13. The heater as defined in claim 8, wherein the slats have an upper surface, a lower surface and sides extending therebetween, and a space is defined between the lower surfaces of the slats and the exterior surface of the grid.
 14. The heater as defined in claim 1, wherein the temperature control mechanism includes: a temperature control member; and a fan adapted to drive air through the cavity in the housing and, when activated, the temperature control member is adapted to one of heat the air or cool the air driven toward it by the fan.
 15. The heater as defined in claim 14, further comprising: an airduct disposed within the cavity and between the fan and the temperature control member; a plenum disposed within the cavity and between the temperature control member and the footrest; a chamber defined in the plenum, said chamber being in fluid communication with the airduct; and a diffuser positioned between the plenum and the footrest.
 16. The heater as defined in claim 15, wherein the diffuser is positioned generally at right angles to the direction of air flowing out of an opening to the chamber in the plenum; and wherein the diffuser includes a plurality of angled faces oriented so as to direct air flowing out of the opening outwardly and upwardly away therefrom.
 17. The heater as defined in claim 15, wherein the fan is selectively operable either when the temperature control member is activated or when the temperature control member is deactivated.
 18. The heater as defined in claim 1, further comprising control members provided on the housing and being engageable to activate or deactivate the temperature control mechanism.
 19. The heater as defined in claim 1, further comprising electrical circuitry adapted to connect a power source to the temperature control mechanism.
 20. The heater as defined in claim 1, wherein the bottom wall includes an interior and an exterior surface; and wherein the heater further includes: one or more pads secured to the bottom wall and extending outwardly from the exterior surface thereof; said pads being adapted to rest upon a surface upon which the heater is disposed. 